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Kids Soccer-What Age Should My Child Play Competitive Soccer?

Soccer has exploded and the exponential rise is due to the increasing numbers of kids that play the game every day. Does your child play? How old are they?

Author: Thomas K
Date: Dec 15, 2009 - 10:52:37 AM

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Many soccer parents contemplate and wonder when is the right age for their children to start playing competitive soccer. To be honest, this question cannot be answered and is too generic. When will you as the parent be ready for your kids to play competitive soccer is a better question.

Your son has just been injured on the field by a bigger and stronger player. How do you react? Do you run on the field protesting or do you start to yell abuse at the player. The question is this; your child will be ready to play soccer when you are ready to cope with all the ups and downs. Can it be simpler than this?

Young kids play soccer because it's fun. They have no intentions of hurting another player or injuring them. Unfortunately that's the nature of the sport and injuries are bound to happen. Can you handle this?

I've seen children as young as 5 participate in soccer and love every minute. The parents are very supporting and expect at times that their kids might get hurt. On the other hand, I've witnessed 10 year olds that cannot cope with the pressures of the game. Pressure from the over demanding coaches and parents make the sport unbearable even on the best of days.

The right age to play competitive soccer can be any age as long as you understand the variables that usually effect the enjoyment of the game. For starters, parents must accept that their children are going to get hurt and must learn to deal with it in a civilized manner. They must understand that soccer is a team sport and that there children are not going to be the center of attention.

If you as the parent can get this right, your child is free to play at any age, no problems. But make sure you're ready to stand in the stands when your child needs you the most. Otherwise your child could be 20 years old and still not be ready for competitive soccer.

Think about it; are you ready for your child to play competitive soccer? I'm guessing your child was born ready to have fun, what's the hold up.

View all articles by Thomas K

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